Mansukh Mandavia inspects Kolkata Port Trust and IWAI Jetty

Minister of State for Road Transport and
Highways, Shipping and Chemicals and Fertilisers, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya
inspected the facilities and ongoing projects at Kolkata Port Trust and GR
Jetty of Inland Waterways Authority of India yesterday. He is on a 2 day visit
to Kolkata and Haldia.

Shri Mandavia visited Netaji Subhas Dock
at Kolkata Port Trust where he stressed upon the need for strengthening the Dry
Dock facilities. He also inaugurated the renovated Birsa Munda Sarani and
Sonapur Road of the Port, and participated in the tree plantation
activities organised by the Port Authorities. He later flagged off the
state-of-theľart Seagoing Survey Launch (River Pearl-1) of KoPT. The
launch is fitted with hull mounted inboard transducers and equipped with modern
survey software for online data acquisition and processing along with AIS and
radar.

At the G.R. Jetty of Inland Waterways
Authority of India Shri Mandavia flagged off the IWAI tug vessel which has a
capacity for towing 2 vessels of 1000 tonnes each. He also surveyed the ongoing
work on NW-I from G.R. Jetty to Howrah Bridge. Briefing the media later on he
said that the Ministry is going to start Ro-Ro Ferry Services from BISN Jetty
to Botanical Garden/Falta and BISN Jetty to Sankrail Jetty which will be a boon
for the people of the twin cities of Howrah and Kolkata. He called upon the
officials of Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) to work towards
connecting the North Eastern Region to the rest of the country through
waterways. During the course of discussion, the Minister also
suggested that cadets/trainee nautical officers should be given the
opportunity for onboard training. He also emphasised on regular monitoring
of the Maritime Training Institute to ensure placement of cadets passing out
from the training institute.

Shri Mandavia also reviewed the ongoing
projects of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and Ministry of Road
Transport & Highways (MoRTH) in the state of West Bengal. He directed the
officers to expedite the works of delayed projects and give proper attention to
land acquisition matters in close coordination with the concerned Revenue
Officers for timely delivery of the project for the benefit of the people of
the state.

The Minister also visited Bengal Chemicals
and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (BCPL) and National Institute of Pharmaceuticals
Education and Research (NIPER) situated in Manicktala area and interacted with
the officers and addressed students, said a release.